File-envelop.



W. F. -GRAFTS.

FILE EN VELOP.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 28, 1901.

PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.

ll y 1211i" Cofifeuts UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

VILBUR F. CRAFTS, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRIOTOF COLUMBIA.

Fl LE-EN VELO P.

.aPEGIFIGATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 722,816, dated lvf arch 17, 1903.

Application filed October 28, 1901. Serial No. 80,285. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR F. CRAFTS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 103 Maryland avenue, northeast, in the city of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in File-Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for filing and indexing topical notes and clippings, the bills, notes, dad, of a business man, and other like loose papers.

It consists in a subdivided self-indexing and expansive file-envelop of novel construction, as hereinafter described and claimed; Its objects are to provide in a simple and effective way for subdividing the contents of each envelop, so that all the inclosures may be quickly found.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a number of file-envelops and index-cards arranged according to a suitable system. Fig. 2 repre sents a cross-section of the improved file-envelop folded; and Figs. 3 and 4 represent the respective sides of the envelop-sheet spread out, Fig. 4 showing a flap 2 on the face of the sheet in a lifted position.

Like reference-numbers indicate like parts in all the figures.

The index-cards and file-en velops are numbered, respectively, 1 and 2 in Fig.1. The present invention relates exclusively to such file-envelops 2. For the purposes of this invention the general indexing system, including such index-cards 1, may be of any approved description.

The contents of each file-envelop'are subdivided and indexed by the envelop itself according to the first vowel after the initial letter. For example, if the envelop were devoted by a lawyer to some client or by a merchant to some customer bills would be kept under i, mortgages and notes under 0, letters under e, &c. If used by a pastor, editor, or teacher. for notes and clippings relating to some topicfor example, Oongresspetitions would be kept under e, tariff documents under a, &;c. A relatively small number of subdivisions is thus rendered effective. To provide for so subdividing and indexing the contents of the envelop and at the same time for the accommodation of a large or small number of papers under each head and a considerable number in the envelop as a whole and for preserving and classifying in like manner memorandums relating to the contents of the respective compartments of the envelop, it is constructed as will now be described with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The envelop when folded and closed presents the ordinary appearance indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. On lifting the outer flap l and opening the envelop like a book the lefthand side of the first compartment opened up bears the index-letter a, Fig. 3, and the right-hand side bears e. A second compartment, side by side with the first, has on its respective sides the index-letters i and 0. Between said first and second compartments a third compartment is formed, opening at the other edge of the envelop and having on its respective sides the index-letters u and .y, Fig. 4. To file a paper under either letter, it is simply placed against the compartment side bearing such letter. Said compartment sides are also, preferably, ruled, as represented at 4:, for notes or memorandums intended to be so indexed or for memorandums of loans or transfers from the compartment.

Bellows folds 5, 6, and 7 between the portions forming the respective indexed compartments render each compartment and the envelop as a whole expansible. (See Fig. 2.)

' The reverse of that portion bearing the index-letter a, Fig. 3, is shown at 8 in Fig. 4 and is provided with appropriatelydesignated spaces for the general topic or name and for an optional table of special contents.

The reverse of that portion bearing the index-letter o, Fig. 3, is shown at 9 in Fig. 4 and is provided with appropriatelydesignated spaces for memorandums with reference to the topic or contents as a Whole.

' Flaps 1 2 3 and 4 to prevent the escape'of papers at the edges of the envelop when the latter is foldedand in use, as in Figs. 1 and 2, complete the article. The main flap 1 is conveniently and preferably one end of the flexible sheet of which the body of the envelop is composed. The 'parallel flap 2 and the end flaps 3 and M are pasted on, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 3, respectively,

the stub of said flap 2 extending, preferably, to the fold 6 and forming said surface marked y. The Whole is thus economically made of four rectangular pieces of suitable fabric, preferally tough Manila paper. Each of the end flaps 3 and M is common to all three of the compartments of the envelop, as hereinbefore described.

Any suitable band or bands may temporarily confine the flaps when the envelop is closed. The folded envelop when empty flattens compact-1y, so as to occupy little more space than a letter-envelop of like size.

The end flaps 3 and 4 may, if preferred, be integral with the body of the envelop, or both may be formed by one and the same cross-strip, the proportions of the envelop may vary widely, and other like modifications-will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described said improvement, I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specificationl. A file-envelop comprising a flexible bodysheet, folded to form two compartments opening at one edge of the envelop and a third compartment opening at its opposite edge, and provided with means for closing said edges including a flap formed by one end of said body-sheet, and with a pair of end flaps common toall the compartments to close the respective ends of the'envelop.

2. A file-envelop comprising a flexible bodysheet folded to form two compartments, opening at one edge of the envelop and a third compartment opening at its other edge, and provided with a supplemental flap to close the open edge of said third compartment, one end of said body-sheet forming a flap to close the open edges of the other compartments.

3. A file-en velop comprising a flexible bodysheet folded to form two compartments opening at one edge of the envelop and a third compartment opening at its opposite edge, and provided with asupplemen tal flap to close the open edge of said third compartment,a flap formed by one end of said body-sheet to close the open edges of the other compartments and end flaps to close the respective ends of the envelop.

4. A file -envelop composed of a flexible body-sheet folded to form compartments opening at opposite edges and bellows folds at the bottom of each compartment, and provided with a flap formed by one end of said bodysheet and a supplemental flap to close the respective edges, and with end flaps to close the respective ends of the envelop, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

\VILBUR F. CRAFTS.

Witnesses:

JAS. L. EWIN, E. THOS. LOFTUS. 

